Hello from Bwana Moja. Africa is NOT "The Dark Continent"

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Gents,

This is what the man said about "Dark Continent":

One pet peeve I'll share with you all, and this is mirrored by all my Africa friends who share the same skin tone as me. Please stop referring to that continent as "The Dark Continent." There's nothing about Africa that's dark anymore. That's a colonial days term. It's dated, disrespectful and portrays you as out of touch. We're trying hard on this side of the world to revolt against any acts of neo-colonialism. That above-referenced moniker was placed on that part of the world by people living outside of Africa. It's high time to do away with it. I know you might think it has such a good ring to it. But it doesn't. It's a cuss word.

I honestly don't know whether this man is black, white, yellow, brown or purple. I only know that he said those who are the same skin tone as he find the term offensive. He didn't say it was a racist put down. Now if he is the same person that is in the first pic of the SCI article posted by @Randy Bo, then the man is black. But I've heard the same complaint regarding "The Dark Continent" from white men who consider themselves Africans.

I personally hate to be called an "ugly American" even though I love to travel and learn about and enjoy other cultures. I wish the term would not be used, at least not with me. I find it offensive, but not racist.

I have no issue whatsoever with any African, white or black or whatever, being bothered by someone from the USA, Europe or anywhere else using this term. It may not be meant that way, but intentions quite often don't matter. And I can easily see it being viewed by a citizen of one of the many African countries as neo-colonialism at work. Just think about it for a moment......what would you call a bunch of Americans or Europeans sitting around coming up with legislation that has the intended effect of shutting down hunting in Africa if you don't call it neo-colonialism? It's thinly veiled arrogance that such people think they know what's best for the citizens of another country. A country that they probably haven't nor ever will even so much as visit, much less call home.

Again, I don't think anyone here on AH intends to be offensive by using that phrase. But sometimes we, myself most certainly included, need to consider how what we say and how we act is viewed by the citizens of the many African countries.

Hunting in Africa is a privilege, a privilege that can disappear in a moment. We lost Botswana for awhile, don't think it couldn't happen again.

 

[mark-hunter]

Hello @Bwana Moja
Welcome to the forum!

 

[spike.t]

@Bwana Moja are you seriously going to lecture us on the phrase ‘Dark Continent’ and call yourself Bwana at the same time? Perhaps you were drinking when you wrote that post? One, you have completely misunderstood the meaning of the term, and two, I will refer to it however I damn well please, and if you don’t care for it, don’t read my posts.

Unfortunately can't give you thumbs up at the same time

 

[spike.t]

I have always associated “Dark Continent”with the terms such as unknown, mysterious or unexplored. The wild places in Africa are fading away which is disheartening for me anyway. Maybe it is time too update.

Don't bother to update no need....

 

[spike.t]

Well you got right up my nose to put it simply....how you turn dark Continent into a racist issue , or neo colonial one I haven't a clue...as has been said I always and will always believe the term was coined due to the fact little was known about the Continent, apart from very northern Africa....so big hole on the map and also in the tropical areas think forest to the shoreline making it dark and mysterious...and Phil I have never heard anyone complaining about it here....mind you I have never heard the term used here...but I doubt anyone would blink an eyelid....so yeah OP don't fall off your high horse as I will piss myself laughing....can't refer to you by your posting name as you ain't my boss....and please try getting someone to call you that in places in SA and see what happens....never met you thank god...as from this post you come across as an extremely arrogant piece of work ....

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Well Bwana Moja, you seem well able to sum up Africa from some visits and come up with amazingly condescending epiphets. How intelligent you must be. I have lived in Africa all my life, my parents have lived here all their lives, their parents came here in the 1800's, my kids are born here, and their kids too. I love Africa, we all have and do. I love all it's people, I have educated them, helped them build their homes, statred companies for them. And I love the history of this continent and my little place in it, just as Speke, Stanley, Lobengula and Rhodes and Shaka had their little place in it. Dark Continent was never racial, it referred to a place that was mysterious and unknown and still does. How dare you denigrate it. It refers to a time in history and it carries no negative connotation. Today Africa is an eclectic vibrant mix that comes from it's very history, it all has a bearing. So forgive me, but I find your lecturing rather shallow and nauseating. Interestingly you have hunted your fill - why did you come to Africa to do it, what drew you? Allow we who have nothing to atone for to continue our wanderings of this beautiful place and save your words for a cause in your own back yard.

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

Welcome to AH Bwana Moja!

Here you are at the SCI convention in February of 2011 with your AH cap!

 

[VertigoBE]

Welcome to Ah @Bwana Moja .

It seems you have entered with quite a splash. Some of the members on AH whose opinions and input I very much respect, such as Jerome and @Medicine seem to know you and value your writing and opinions highly.

For us other members, who are not yet familiar with your writings or yourself, but who are all lovers of Africa and everything and everyone in it (the primary reason everyone is on the forum is to plan to go back to Africa or read about others going back), it is a bit offputting to be called out being racist or derogatory for the use of a term that signifies a place where the "veil of the unknown still covers the lands", which is the only interpretation I ever had of "the Dark Continent".

(although in more recent times, with the load shedding in SA for example, another more ironic meaning could be applied )

AH has tried its best not to have racism, sexism, or any other negative -ism's invade its pages and members. And when a member does step out of line, it is quickly called out by the others.

As I personally do not know you, apart from this introduction, I will first read through of some of your articles, because reading about "the Dark Continent" and the adventures that happen there, just brings a smile on my face.

 

[Randy F]

I genuinely believe everyone deserves respect until they prove otherwise, so I struggle when people introduce themselves in a way that seems they believe they are doing me a favor by allowing me to be in their presence.

But one thing I'm getting extremely tired of is an individual or group deciding on the definition or re-definition of a word or term and feel it's ok to shove it down my throat.

Another is using celebrity to push an agenda.

I've enjoyed your writings in the past. Stick with writing and your readership will determine the level of agreement.

 

[Jaegger]

Welcome! I recall your AH profile from a past article, nickname placed in Zambia if I recall.

Job/mission has taken me outside the U.S. & living Internationally since ‘91 & quickly adapting to Place, People, & Culture has proven to be my best recipe to avoiding cultural entanglements. I’m no Anthropologist but schooled on Deep Thoughts with Jack Handy & from eleven/11 trips into seven/7 Africa Countries, Military Medical x 3 & Hunting Holiday x8; the term Dark Continent was uttered more from Locals than my Groups & again, merely my experiences.

I had a life changing experience hunting Zim, I enjoyed the company of a black PH rich in personality, culture & hunting experience. During a night outing we witnessed something big, just outside the moonlight on the edge of forest - it’s dark color, size & shape was @#$&!? like something that shouldn’t be …

PH shared days early he grew up in witchcraft as a spiritual or religious belief, but it can be twisted. So, when I asked, “what was that?” He simply shared, “ … we will never understand the Dark Origins of this Land.”

My 2012 life experience to the word Dark & in Africa = color, evil, or the unknown? I will trust/follow Merriam-Webster 1828, Dark Continent: something unknown or unexplored - VS - 21st Century, opinionated interruption.

Doubtful anyone knows true origin/meaning or who uttered Dark Continent as a 1st phrase: Colonists in writings? Or a Local to a Colonists who merely transcribed into writings?

Best of Luck w/ your quest for a behemoth Croc …

Happy Trails

 

[mark-hunter]

Dark Continent was never racial, it referred to a place that was mysterious and unknown and still does

This is exactly what dark continent means to me!

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

Welcome to AH. Good luck.

 

[Frederik]

Welcome, Mr one Shot.

I read what you say about the dark continent and I'm sure Cappy your camera man will still call this country the Dark Continent being hijacked of his Cruiser years back.

As previous members have mentioned the Dark Continent was called so because of mistery and no other reason.

It's definietly not the clean or white continent with violence, bribery and corrupt government officials and politicians filling their own pockets thats for sure. It might even become the next yellow or red continent with the Chinese buying everything mines, land and forests via deals they make.

I also own a red passport except for my South African passport. I was not born in Africa and could go and move to most places in the world but my heart is here my roots is firmly rooted. I will die here among all its people in my dearest Darkest Africa where elephant will hopefully tread on my ashes.

But on the other hand I have enjoyed watching your hunting videos and suddenly you stopped making them and am glad that it was all rumours and you are still hunting.
Hope to see you in a video finding your monster croc if I was you Cahora Bassa would be a good start to look.

 

[Philip Glass]

Greetings to All,

I might know a handful of the good women and men who contribute to this forum. I met Jerome a few years back. He gave me a really cool hat and it blew off my head when I was taking a helicopter ride hovering above the Okavango Delta.

I might chime in from time to time. I'm here to read more than write. Someone had written somewhere on one of these forums that I had exited hunting and had become anti 2A. That was trash. Some chump trying to take a shot at me. Wasn't the first time.

I'm a world record lesser kudu and bongo away, from just about everything I'm after on the big continent. I'm doing alot more writing for SCI publications and elsewhere, than hunting now. That's for sure. I guess I reached that point where there's really...not that much else to take. I'm still deeply embedded in Africa, flying over periodically to go hang out with my African friends. If there's really something splendid I'll chase it. Been chasing a 17-18 foot croc forever now. Passed on a few 16-footers. I believe there's a 60" LDE lurking, if I can ever get back into C.A.R.. I'd pay a pretty penny to go after Giant Sable in Angola, if it ever reopened, to benefit conservation.

My love affair with that continent has laid the foundation for my affinity for writing about African safaris and animals. I try to write intelligent pieces. Stuff that other writers don't write. Stuff that you don't even know. I'm not good at writing the same ole stuff everyone else does. I write to make the hunting community smarter, and to enable you to come home in one piece and shoot just one shot. Not doing any filming anymore or video production.

One pet peeve I'll share with you all, and this is mirrored by all my Africa friends who share the same skin tone as me. Please stop referring to that continent as "The Dark Continent." There's nothing about Africa that's dark anymore. That's a colonial days term. It's dated, disrespectful and portrays you as out of touch. We're trying hard on this side of the world to revolt against any acts of neo-colonialism. That above-referenced moniker was placed on that part of the world by people living outside of Africa. It's high time to do away with it. I know you might think it has such a good ring to it. But it doesn't. It's a cuss word.

That's all for now.
Asante,
Moja

View attachment 482439

I really enjoy your articles and appreciate your support for SCI. Ive seen many of your videos and know how much work goes into filming and producing those. Like you I love Africa and want to experience all it has to offer. I have just completed the Africa 29 (B5, D7 some time ago) and now share my love of Africa with others by helping them plan their first safari.

I vehemently disagree with you on the use of "The Dark Continent" to describe Africa. This term, although coined long ago, has nothing to do with colonialism or race. It has to do with the mystery and danger of a land with places that are still uninhabited. That mystery and danger, whether real or perceived, still exists in the minds of westerners. This is part of the reason it is in our blood to dream of Africa as hunters and adventurers. Africa is a magical place and is hard for some to describe but most who've not been fear Africa. I know this because most hunters who go with me on their first safari would never have ventured to Africa by themselves.
Bwana, Africa is still very much "The Dark Continent" in the minds of many and you are simply wrong if you believe it has anything to do with colonialism or race.

Happy Hunting,
Philip Glass

 

[Fixfire]

Sorry for not knowing who you are, apparently you think you’re quite important

Hahaha. What he said!!
Never thought it as a term for skin color - even if so, why would that be assumed racist??? As said by many, Dark to me means mysterious, secretive. Then again, like MOST “Native Americans” I never thought Cleveland Indians or Washington Redskins was racist.
It’s the self-important, smarter-than-you (perceived) crowd that needs to re educate us unwashed. Lol!!

 

[Bwana Moja]

I stated early on, that I write intelligent pieces, to inform and enlighten, to make one smarter and aware of stuff that perhaps one didn't know about. I'd like to think that I've spent enough time in Africa, slept alongside enough people in their quarters, communicated with them enough times in their native tongies, which lays the foundation of that which I write about.

It was first in 1994, when I was interviewing the late Nelson Mandela, that it came to my attention that this label, placed on Africa by Henry Stanley in his 1878 book, Through The Dark Continent, is perceived by many Africans, as a condescending term. For the better part of the last two decades I have conducted interviews with Africans on this subject matter. Yes, when first used, it spoke to the "mysterious and unknown" aspects of Africa. It also took on an imperialistic context of legitiizing the enslavement of Africans and exploitation of Africa's resources.

Don't hate on me as the scrivener. I'm only passing on to you as a messenger that which I've learned and uncovered to be reality here in 2022. I am also writing a longer comprehensive piece hopefully to be published by EOY.

WAB: The term Bwana Moja was given to me by four Zambian men in 2004. When an African person gives you a name, it is often out of respect bestowing upon you a term of endearment. In Swahili, one of the most widely spoken languages in Africa, "Bwana" is translated continent-wide to mean sir or mister. My Professional Hunter Peter Chipman at the time, is the Zambian man who encouraged me to accept this honor. So the name has sort of just stuck over the years. There's a video on YouTube that details more, the very moment African trackers started referring to me as Bwana Moja.
---
And yes, I understand the pushback some of you may have. Of course I anticipated it! But Africans are asking to world to do away with the labels and dated descriptions, that were placed on them from outside the walls of Africa. They want to lead their way, on the distribution of their resources. They dislike outsiders telling them how to regulate the hunting of their animals. Their battle cry, is "Let Africa Lead." Resistance to this is termed as "neocolonialism." Also, if someone asked me to stop calling him a certain name because it's inappropriate, I would certainly be inclined to oblige. Especially if it was a name not necessarily placed on you by your peers.

Randy Bo: The title reference to Capstick's book is done out of professional respect and attribution to what another writer has written. Those are the rules of my trade. As you read further and also noted, I take exception to some of what Capstick has written regarding the cape buffalo. Every professional hunter in Africa who I screened this with, stood with me in solidarity. The cape buffalo does have weaknesses. Capstick's literature contibuted mightily to understanding of the bush. But as hunting has evolved, that which he spoke about then, doesn't pass muster today. As a contemporary writer along with thousands of others, our latest literature corrects the record, likely only to be debunked in future generations.

 

[Bwana Moja]

Welcome Bwana Moja. Always had the utmost respect for you thoughts and opinions. Even being from the deep South, I had never once given a second thought to the use of The Dark Continent” as a negative or derogatory term. However, I appreciate the point you are making and respect your objective perspective.

BTW, you were kind enough at SCI Convention years ago to write a nice note to my young son in a copy of your book. He is now 22, and enjoyed his first safari to Africa a few years back. Wonderful as a father to see things come full circle. Thanks again for sharing.

Thanks Mort. Give your son a hug for me and it's good to hear of his hunting progressions. That trip to Africa with your son I'm certain, was magical.

 

[Fixfire]

I stated early on, that I write intelligent pieces, to inform and enlighten, to make one smarter and aware of stuff that perhaps one didn't know about. I'd like to think that I've spent enough time in Africa, slept alongside enough people in their quarters, communicated with them enough times in their native tongies, which lays the foundation of that which I write about.

It was first in 1994, when I was interviewing the late Nelson Mandela, that it came to my attention that this label, placed on Africa by Henry Stanley in his 1878 book, Through The Dark Continent, is perceived by many Africans, as a condescending term. For the better part of the last two decades I have conducted interviews with Africans on this subject matter. Yes, when first used, it spoke to the "mysterious and unknown" aspects of Africa. It also took on an imperialistic context of legitiizing the enslavement of Africans and exploitation of Africa's resources.

Don't hate on me as the scrivener. I'm only passing on to you as a messenger that which I've learned and uncovered to be reality here in 2022. I am also writing a longer comprehensive piece hopefully to be published by EOY.

WAB: The term Bwana Moja was given to me by four Zambian men in 2004. When an African person gives you a name, it is often out of respect bestowing upon you a term of endearment. In Swahili, one of the most widely spoken languages in Africa, "Bwana" is translated continent-wide to mean sir or mister. My Professional Hunter Peter Chipman at the time, is the Zambian man who encouraged me to accept this honor. So the name has sort of just stuck over the years. There's a video on YouTube that details more, the very moment African trackers started referring to me as Bwana Moja.
---
And yes, I understand the pushback some of you may have. Of course I anticipated it! But Africans are asking to world to do away with the labels and dated descriptions, that were placed on them from outside the walls of Africa. They want to lead their way, on the distribution of their resources. They dislike outsiders telling them how to regulate the hunting of their animals. Their battle cry, is "Let Africa Lead." Resistance to this is termed as "neocolonialism." Also, if someone asked me to stop calling him a certain name because it's inappropriate, I would certainly be inclined to oblige. Especially if it was a name not necessarily placed on you by your peers.

Randy Bo: The title reference to Capstick's book is done out of professional respect and attribution to what another writer has written. Those are the rules of my trade. As you read further and also noted, I take exception to some of what Capstick has written regarding the cape buffalo. Every professional hunter in Africa who I screened this with, stood with me in solidarity. The cape buffalo does have weaknesses. Capstick's literature contibuted mightily to understanding of the bush. But as hunting has evolved, that which he spoke about then, doesn't pass muster today. As a contemporary writer along with thousands of others, our latest literature corrects the record, likely only to be debunked in future generations.

Dude, that first sentence invalidates you to me and most people. The reader will judge if your writings are intelligent - not you. YOU are going to make Me smarter?!?!? You need to drop the arrogance if you are to gain any credibility - especially with this crowd.

 

[Bwana Moja]

I really enjoy your articles and appreciate your support for SCI. Ive seen many of your videos and know how much work goes into filming and producing those. Like you I love Africa and want to experience all it has to offer. I have just completed the Africa 29 (B5, D7 some time ago) and now share my love of Africa with others by helping them plan their first safari.

I vehemently disagree with you on the use of "The Dark Continent" to describe Africa. This term, although coined long ago, has nothing to do with colonialism or race. It has to do with the mystery and danger of a land with places that are still uninhabited. That mystery and danger, whether real or perceived, still exists in the minds of westerners. This is part of the reason it is in our blood to dream of Africa as hunters and adventurers. Africa is a magical place and is hard for some to describe but most who've not been fear Africa. I know this because most hunters who go with me on their first safari would never have ventured to Africa by themselves.
Bwana, Africa is still very much "The Dark Continent" in the minds of many and you are simply wrong if you believe it has anything to do with colonialism or race.

Happy Hunting,
Philip Glass

Solid response Phillip. Well written and the proper way people should share diverging opinions. Old habits die hard. There's a lake here in Minneapolis where I live, we used to call it Lake Calhoun. It has now been renamed "Bde Maka Ska." We can't call it Lake C_ _ _ _ _ _ anymore.

I've done my research however, on this one. Yes I know the perceived originally stated intention of the term. There's simply more to the term, than what meets the ear. I even used it in some of my earlier works, but I've learned otherwise today here in 2022, which compels me to write what I've written. And I'm hardly not the first person to state this.

 

[Flipper Dude]

You might start with an editor, as well as a refresher on punctuation. I mean, if you wanna write intelligent, and all that.